ARTICLE Notes on mating behaviour and a possible new host plant for Megacyllene angulata (Fabricius, 1775) (Cerambycidae, Coleoptera)

Francisco Eriberto de Lima Nascimento¹³; Diego Matheus de Mello Mendes²⁴ & Alberto Moreira da Silva Neto²⁵

¹ Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Museu de Zoologia (MZUSP). Avenida Nazaré, 481, Ipiranga, CEP 04263‑000, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. ² Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Coordenação de Pesquisas em Entomologia (CPEN), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia (PPG‑ENT). Campus II. Avenida André Araújo, 2.936, Petrópolis, CEP 69067‑375, Manaus, AM, Brasil. ³ ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5047-8921. E‑mail: [email protected] ⁴ ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5037-9686 E‑mail: [email protected] ⁵ ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4522-3756. E‑mail: [email protected] (corresponding author)

Abstract. The mating behavior of M. angulata (Fabricius, 1775) is described, illustrated and discussed. Additionally, we also comment on the possible new host plant of this species based on two plants (Luehea cymulosa Spruce ex Benth. (Malvaceae) and Doliocarpus dentatus (Aubl.) Standl (Dilleniaceae) on which copulation occurs.

Key-Words. Amazon region; Behaviour; Ecology; Longhorned beetle.

INTRODUCTION allows males to mate several times, ensuring pa‑ ternity of eggs and prevents the female from cop‑ Clytini Mulsant, 1839 is a cosmopolitan tribe ulating with other males (Hanks & Wang, 2017). composed of 83 genera, among which Megacyllene Another important aspect is that males of Casey, 1912 is the eighth most diverse, with 57 many species have the antennae longer than species distributed throughout the American females (in general, more than twice the body continent (Monné, 2018; Tavakilian & Chevillote, length). According to Hanks et al. (1996), this di‑ 2018). The South American species were revised morphic feature has selective advantage, by in‑ by Martins & Galileo (2011). Few species of the creasing the rates of female location and by im‑ genus occur in the Amazon region. Among these, proving their abilities to find the place where fe‑ M. angulata (Fabricius, 1775) is one of the most males commonly oviposit. According to the same widely distributed, occurring from Mexico to the author, the antenna length is also related to the Brazilian Amazon (Martins & Galileo, 2011). male’s behavior, usually more active than females. According to Lingafelter et al. (2017), M. an- Nonetheless, many species of Cerambycidae gulata has 10‑15 mm. These authors stated: have relatively short antennae, not exceeding the “Resembles M. acuta [M. acuta (Germar, 1821)] elytral apices, such as Megacyllene species. The and has similar habits. It is best distinguished from mating behavior of such species also differs dras‑ that species by having darker recumbent pubes‑ tically from those with long antennae (Ray et al., cence on the elytra and by its central elytral fasci‑ 2009). Herein we describe, illustrate and discuss ae, which are narrow lines and extend well up the the mating behavior of M. angulate. Additionally, elytral margin in contrast to the irregular shape we also comment on possible new host plant of and short sutural extension of those of M. acuta.” this species based on two plants (Luehea cymulo- Knowledge about the mating behavior of the sa Spruce ex Benth. (Malvaceae) and Doliocarpus vast majority of cerambycids species is still un‑ dentatus (Aubl.) Standl (Dilleniaceae) on which known. In most studied species, males recognize copulation was observed. females only after contacting them with their antennae (Hanks & Wang, 2017). In general, both sexes aggregate on the larval host where males MATERIAL AND METHODS typically approach females to copulate, then, males remain paired with female while it searches The observation occurred on December 15, for oviposition sites (Hanks, 1999). This behavior 2018. The location is a lowland forest glade, on a

Pap. Avulsos Zool., 2020; v.60: e20206004 ISSN On-Line: 1807-0205 http://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2020.60.04 ISSN Printed: 0031-1049 http://www.revistas.usp.br/paz ISNI: 0000-0004-0384-1825 http://www.scielo.br/paz Edited by: Simone Policena Rosa Received: 18/07/2019 Accepted: 06/11/2019 Published: 31/01/2020 Pap. Avulsos Zool., 2020; v.60: e20206004 Nascimento, F.E.L. et al.: Megacyllene angulate: mating behaviour and possible new host plant 2/5 fluvial island between the Solimões and Tefé rivers, Tefé, Hosts – Alexa leiopetala Sandwith, A. wachenheimii R. Ben. Amazonas, Brazil (03°19′57.6″S, 64°41′14.1″W) (Fig. 1). In (Papilionaceae), Faramea corymbosa Aublet (Rubiaceae). the glade, part of the vegetation had recently been cut for logging, including trees and vines. The identification of M. angulata was made at LAC Mating behavior (Figs. 2A‑D) (Laboratório de Coleoptera do Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil) through Several specimens of Megacyllene angulata were specialized bibliography and comparison with deposited observed on a single specimen of Doliocarpus dentatus specimens. The photographs were taken from alive spec‑ (Aubl.) Standl (Dilleniaceae). The vine was cut, but it was imens using a Nikon 7100 digital camera, with a 65 mm still fixed on the canopy of a large tree of Luehea cymulosa Macro lens. The other images were taken with a Leica Spruce ex Benth. (Malvaceae). In the cut part of the vines DFC295 attached at a stereoscopic microscope M205. (about 1.5 meters above the ground) there was sap drip‑ The illustration was made using the Adobe Illustrator ping and several male and female specimens of M. an- CS6 and Adobe Photoshop CS6. Figure plates were ed‑ gulata clustered in this region (Fig. 2A). The specimens ited with the Adobe Photoshop, free software GIMP showed a repetitive behavior climbing from the cut part 2.10.6 (GNU Image Manipulation Program), and Inkscape to a region 3 meters above the cut and vice-versa. During 0.48.4. The map was made through ArcMap ESRI soft‑ this movement there were several copulation attempts, ware Version 9.3. The distributional data are based on in which males frantically pursued females (Fig. 2B). Most Tavakilian & Chevillotte (2018) and Monné (2018). The of the copulations, when initiated, were interrupted by host plants data follows Monné (2001). aggressive behaviors of other males biting especially the pronotum and antennal base of the male specimen in mating (Fig. 2C). Couples, which escaped the attacks, RESULTS climbed to the upper part of the vine (about 2 meters above the cut) and remained immobile on the region of CERAMBYCINAE Latreille, 1802 the vine not directly exposed to sunlight (Fig. 2D). CLYTINI Mulsant, 1839 Megacyllene Casey, 1912 Megacyllene angulata (Fabricius, 1775) (Fig. 3A‑F) DISCUSSION

Distribution: Mexico (Chiapas, Veracruz), Guatemala, The species Luehea cymulosa is widely distributed in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Amazon region and we believe that it is possibly another Ecuador, Surinam, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil host plant of M. angulate. Although no hatching of M. an- (Roraima, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Maranhão, gulata has been observed, the large number of M. angulata Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul), Peru, Bolivia (Beni, mates on a vine attached to L. cymulosa and the Amazonian Santa Cruz), Dominica. distribution of this tree underlies this argument.

Figure 1. Location where the observations occurred. (A) South American with Amazonia state (Brazil) marked; (B) Amazonia state with the location of observation in Tefé municipality marked (red point); (C) area of observation. Nascimento, F.E.L. et al.: Megacyllene angulate: mating behaviour and possible new host plant Pap. Avulsos Zool., 2020; v.60: e20206004 3/5

Figure 2. Specimens of Megacyllene angulata performing mating behavior. (A) Male and female specimens clustered in a region of the vine. (B) Males frantically pursued females. (C) Copulations interrupted by aggressive behaviors of other males. (D) Couple in copulation, immobile on the region of the vine not directly exposed to sunlight. Pap. Avulsos Zool., 2020; v.60: e20206004 Nascimento, F.E.L. et al.: Megacyllene angulate: mating behaviour and possible new host plant 4/5

Megacyllene angulata mating was observed on the Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins); vine Doliocarpus dentatus, therefore the vine is also a Northeast (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, possible host plant of this beetle, although their dis‑ Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe); tributions do not completely overlap: D. dentatus is Central-West (Distrito Federal, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, widely distributed in all regions of Brazil: North (Acre, Mato Grosso); Southeast (Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais,

Figure 3. Megacyllene angulata (Fabricius, 1775). (A‑C) male. (A) dorsal habitus; (B) ventral habitus; (C) lateral habitus. (D‑F) female. (D) dorsal habitus; (E) ventral habitus; (F) lateral habitus. Scale bar = 2 mm. Nascimento, F.E.L. et al.: Megacyllene angulate: mating behaviour and possible new host plant Pap. Avulsos Zool., 2020; v.60: e20206004 5/5

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